Root Canal Therapy
Endodontics (Root Canal Treatment)
Endodontics is the branch of dental medicine that specialises in conditions impacting the tissues and pulp that surround the roots of a tooth. Dental pulp contains nerves, venules, arterioles, lymphatic tissue, and fibrous tissues. When these become diseased or damaged, endodontic intervention may be required to save the tooth and provide the patient with relief.
What Is a Root Canal?
A root canal is one of the most commonly employed treatment modalities used in the field of endodontics. The aim of a root canal is to repair and save one or more teeth that have become severely infected or decayed. The procedure involves the removal of the pulp and associated nerve inside of the affected tooth. Once the pulp is removed, the tooth is cleaned, sterilised and sealed.
Although only a qualified dentist can determine whether or not a root canal is the best treatment option given your situation, the following represent symptoms that may indicate your need for treatment:
- Severe tooth pain, especially when eating or putting pressure on the tooth
- Increased sensitivity to cold or hot
- A darkening of the tooth
- Tenderness, redness or swelling of the gums around the tooth
Root canal treatment allows us to treat and preserve badly infected teeth. The process involves cleaning out the infection and sealing off the tooth, making it functional again. Typically, the overall procedure is spaced across 2-3 appointments, depending on the tooth that’s being treated.
We hope you’ll be surprised to learn that root canal therapy is more comfortable than most people realise. Since we’re focusing so much on one specific tooth, it’s not uncommon for many patients to feel relaxed enough to fall asleep during their appointment.
Rarely do our root canal patients need sedation, but it is available upon request. The local anaesthetic is usually more than adequate to help you enjoy a relatively painless experience. That being said, if you’re worried about your jaw feeling sore, we can offer you a small bite block to rest your teeth and jaw during the appointment.
Do I Need a Root Canal?
If your tooth is decayed, broken or abscessed, request a root canal evaluation with Access Dental Services today.
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Any invasive or surgical procedure may carry risks. Before moving forward, it is recommended that you seek a second opinion from an appropriately licensed medical professional.
